RICHARD Gregory will give a host of entrepreneurs his pearls of wisdom as keynote speaker at The Press Business Awards 2010.

The chairman of Science City York, who is a former managing director of Yorkshire Television, will give his insights on the state of the York business economy and its future challenges at the event’s glittering finals in the Voltigeur Suite of York Racecourse on November 18.

That should be fascinating, given his broad insight into the economy. He is also a non-executive director of National Australia Group Europe Ltd and of Clydesdale Bank Plc and carries the title of Yorkshire Bank chairman on the board of the National Australia Group Europe Ltd.

Mr Gregory, who was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to Yorkshire, said: “I shall be honest about what the challenges are. We have achieved much, but there is an awful lot more to do.

“All we can do is accelerate the opportunities we have control of. We have to take charge of our own destiny.”

He said he was flattered to be invited to speak at the 20th anniversary of The Press Business Awards which excelled in showcasing best practice and “bringing together the business community with the civil community”.

Mr Gregory is also a non-executive director of Imagesound PLC, chairman of Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust, a member of the Foundation Trust Network board, and chairman of Yorkshire Innovation, the region’s science council.

He left Yorkshire Television in 2001, after a 21-year career in programming and broadcasting, during which he gained a strong interest in innovation in technology and working practices.

Mr Gregory’s other previous roles include deputy chairman of Yorkshire Forward, chairman of the Yorkshire International Business Convention, was for four years chairman of Sheffield Hallam University, non executive director of Sheffield University Enterprises Ltd and national board member and Yorkshire chairman of Business in the Community He has been chairman of Science City York for three years and represents the region on the Technology Strategy Board’s strategic advisory committee.